A driveway is the largest surface most homes show the street, and on the Sunshine Coast it works hard: summer storms dump serious water, coastal blocks sit on sand that moves differently to the hinterland’s clay, and the newer estates write their own rules about what the finish is allowed to be. A driveway formed and poured properly, on a compacted base with steel reinforcement and control joints, handles all of it.
Three finishes, one standard underneath
Every driveway gets the same preparation, steel and drainage. The finish is the choice you make at the site measure.
- Plain concrete, broom finished for grip. The economical choice where covenants allow it, and the right one for side runs and service areas.
- Coloured concrete, oxide pigment through the full depth of the slab so the colour cannot wear off. Charcoals and warm stone tones suit the coast’s rendered and weatherboard streets.
- Exposed aggregate, decorative stone revealed at the surface and sealed. The most specified street facing finish on the coast, and the one most estate covenants point you towards. The exposed aggregate page covers stone and sealing in detail.
Built for coastal ground
Beach side suburbs sit on sandy ground that drains fast but needs proper compaction; the hinterland runs to clay and loam that move with the seasons. The base is prepared to suit the ground, a membrane goes down where required, and steel mesh is placed on chairs so it sits within the slab rather than under it. Falls are set away from the house and garage, which matters in a region that gets its rain in bursts. The full build up is on the specification page.
Crossovers and the council
The crossover is built in the road reserve and follows council rules. Sunshine Coast Council and Noosa Shire both run a two tier system: a standard crossover is self assessed against the council checklist and needs no permit, while a non standard one needs written council approval before work starts, with a fee the council sets each financial year. Requirements are the council’s and can change; whether your crossover is standard is confirmed in writing with the quote.
What it costs
Driveway rates run by finish, supplied and laid, and the rates guide sets out what moves the price for your block. Where a driveway can be poured alongside a patio or paths, the rate for the smaller job comes down because the crew and the truck are already on site. Prices may vary with site conditions and variations; the written quote after a site measure is fixed.
Where we pour concrete driveways
Baringa, Beerwah, Bells Creek, Buderim, Caloundra, Coolum, Golden Beach, Kawana, Landsborough, Maleny, Maroochydore, Mooloolaba, Mountain Creek, Nambour, Nirimba, Noosa, Palmview, Palmwoods, Peregian Beach, Sippy Downs and across the region: where we work.